A taxpayer-funded parental leave scheme of 18 weeks at the adult minimum wage ($544 per week) would benefit around 140,000 mothers and their newborn children each year and yield community-wide gains in the long term, according to this draft report. The scheme also provides for two weeks’ paid leave to over 225,000 eligible fathers.

The Commission’s scheme will cost the government budget around an additional $450 million annually – after offsets from taxing the benefits and reduced social transfers, including removing eligibility for the baby bonus for those who take paid parental leave. Business will put in a net $74 million a year through superannuation contributions, whilst benefiting from greater retention rates of women employees.